I hope you enjoyed yesterday’s reflection taken from the book of Baruch on the theme of divine providence and justice. Today’s message from the same book of Baruch sheds more light on divine justice.

Let’s read this together: "Fear not, my children; call out to God! He who brought this upon you will remember you. As your hearts have been disposed to stray from God, turn now ten times the more to seek him; For he who has brought disaster upon you will, in saving you, bring you back enduring joy" (Bar 4:27-29).

God speaks to us with a tender word, calling us that affectionate title, “my children.” Then He tells us the redemptive reasons for His chastisement. Here we see that God allows us to face the consequences of sin on earth so that we will come back to our senses, like the prodigal son (Lk 15:11-32), and live. God isn’t an enabler. He loves us and wills for us to walk in the ways of righteousness.

From time to time, when we live a life that is opposed to true love, God allows some events and experiences to shake us into repentance. It could come from embarrassing and humbling situations. It could also come from disappointments. Sometimes health situations and frustrations in business could be that divine nudge for us to come back to our senses. God uses every available channel to call us to repentance because He loves us.

Unfortunately, many do not listen. Instead of paying attention, they play the blame game and lose the point of divine message. They act the victim and want people to sympathize with them, so they have that temporary psychological feel-good experience instead of learning the lesson from the Loving Heavenly Father.

Consider what happened in the story of the fall of Adam and Eve in Genesis, chapter three. When God asked Adam what happened to him after his fall to temptation, he was quick to shift the blame to Eve and Eve to Satan. This doesn’t help in the spiritual life.

For those who want to grow in the interior life, they know that every suffering or set back has a message attached to it. It could be a moment of purification if the suffering, in some ways, was due to our indiscretions.

It could equally be for faith-deepening, deeper life in Christ, if the suffering is not our own making. Such has much graces attached to it. 1 Peter 3:14 tells us that suffering for what is good is a blessing. The Saints love it and call it “redemptive suffering.” It is the kind of suffering Mother Mary, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, told the three children of Fatima—Lucia, Francesco, and Jacinta—they will endure.

Let us pay attention to those signals through which God draws us back or closer to Himself. Those are the mercies of God. His love is that we live the life of joy and be saved.

Praying that in everything we see God directing us to joy and salvation. Amen.

Fr. Maurice Emelu

Father Maurice provides a daily blog of reflections based on the bible readings of the day from the Catholic liturgical calendar. You will find these reflections helpful for your spiritual growth, inspiration and developing your own thoughts. It may also be helpful for ministers in preparing their sermons for liturgical celebrations.